More Than 5,000 Pounds of Pasta Salad Recalled After Labeling Mix-Up

Sometimes a food recall happens because of bacteria. Sometimes it's because of a foreign object. This time, the problem appears to be a case of mistaken identity.

Reser's Fine Foods recall involves approximately 5,300 pounds of ready-to-eat pasta salad. 

Some of the containers labeled as pasta salad may actually contain chicken salad. That matters because the chicken salad contains allergens that aren't listed on the label.

Which Product Is Being Recalled?

The current Molly's Kitchen pasta salad recall involves:

• Molly's Kitchen California Style Pasta Salad

• 5-pound plastic tubs

• Use-by Date: July 16, 2026

• Establishment Number: P-00874

According to the notice released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the product was produced on June 11, 2026 and shipped to distributors in seven states: 

• Alabama

• Florida

• New Jersey

• North Carolina

• South Carolina

• Tennessee

• Virginia

Why Is It Being Recalled?

This undeclared allergens recall was issued because the chicken salad contains egg and milk, both of which are considered major food allergens. 

Because those ingredients don’t appear on the pasta salad label, people with allergies or sensitivities could unknowingly consume them.

The company notified federal officials after discovering the labeling mistake, which led to the recall.

What Should You Do If You Have It?

If you purchased the recalled product, FSIS says you shouldn’t eat it. Instead, either throw it away or return it to the place of purchase. 

Federal officials are concerned that some of the affected product may still be sitting in consumers' refrigerators.

The recall has been classified as a Class I recall, which is the highest-risk category. That designation is used when there’s a reasonable probability that consuming the product could cause serious health problems.

Have Any Illnesses Been Reported?

So far, the good news is that no confirmed illnesses or allergic reactions have been linked to the recalled product.

Still, food safety officials recommend checking your refrigerators if you've recently purchased large tubs of prepared pasta salad, especially if you live in one of the states where the product was distributed.

A Reminder to Check the Label

This pasta salad recall is a good reminder that food recalls aren't always about contamination.

Sometimes, the biggest problem is what's missing from the label. For anyone with food allergies, accurate ingredient information can be just as important as food safety itself. 

Taking a quick look at a use-by date and product code may only take a few seconds, but it can help prevent a much bigger problem later on.

This food recall in June 2026 may have started as a simple labeling error, but it's one that we’ll want to take seriously.

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